Deanna's Story

Easter Sunday, 2007 was a wonderful day. I would have never imagined that the day would be the end of a “before”…and a beginning of an “after”. Before MS and after MS.

We enjoyed the day like we had so many times before with family. Christy seemed to be struggling a bit with a cold or possibly allergies. It was really no big deal and she enjoyed the day thoroughly.

Two days later, she called me to tell me that she was having trouble with her eyesight. “Mom, I just can’t see.” We went to our doctor, and she got Christy started on some allergy medications. Spring in Arizona can be just horrible on the allergies! “This should clear it up for you Christy. If not, just give us a call back.”

Thursday came with no improvement of her eyes. An examination showed that Christy’s eyesight had changed dramatically. And basically overnight. She was offered no real explanation for it other than “Sometimes that just happens.”

Christy knew then, at some level, that something was just not right. It did not all add up. She told me that she could handle just about anything, but she really did not want to go blind. And then she would giggle the Christy giggle! (To know Christy, is to know the giggle!) It concerned me, but I just figured that she had not been noticing her eyesight changing and that it was indeed just something that “sometimes just happens”.

Monday morning, Christy called me from work. “Mom, I’m losing it physically, mentally, and spiritually.” Those were her exact words and I don’t think I will ever forget them. “What’s up?” I asked. “Mom, now my left hand is going crazy. It just will not do what my brain tells it to do.” “Let’s do LUNCH!” I suggested. I just HAD to get my eyes on my baby!

At lunch I thought I saw the left side of her face drooping. Now I’M losing it! NO it can’t be. No way. That just does not make sense. She could not use her left hand.

“You need to go see the Dr. - NOW!” I “requested”. She claimed she was too busy and would go on Thursday. So - maybe it was all in my head. Her face is ok…right? Oh my gosh!! What is happening? Is my 24-year-old daughter having a stroke or something? Thursday was a long wait.

As she “bounced” (to know Christy is to know her bounce too!) into my house on Thursday, she popped herself in front of my bathroom mirror and said “Mom, LOOK! My face is drooping too!” Tipped back her head and did the Christy giggle! I was glad it was time to go see the Dr.

Sabrena, (our nurse practitioner…AKA “Dr.”) took one look at Christy and said, “Christy, your face is drooping.” With a bit of an examination, she excused herself from the room and went to confer with Dr. Green and do a bit of research.

We are blessed to have a “Sabrena” in our lives. I don’t know how we would have done this without her. She came into the room, sat down and just said it. Christy, I think you have MS. She went on to offer us lots of hope if that did indeed end up being the final diagnosis.

A lot of testing later, the fear that this could be cancer, the unknown of MS, the tears, the anger, the THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING TO MY CHRISTY!, and all of the many other things that we experienced the following month all came together when we were greeted with the final diagnosis of MS. We felt some relief that it was not cancer, a bit armed that we had a lot of information on MS, and yet I still deal with the sadness and at times…frankly the anger that my daughter must face so much uncertainty in her life.

As difficult as this is, we actively look for the gifts that we have been given.
Appreciating each healthy day, meeting new people who have walked this walk, being reminded so often of the love of those around us. Our family, our friends and band friend family, our neighbors, and so many others. Without these beautiful people in our lives, I don’t know how we would have walked through this. Their CONSTANT contact, support, and care for us is the true meaning of Love.

Many of you know our story well. Many of you have walked our story with us and will forever be in our hearts and souls. Wanna walk some more??? ☺

On the right hand side of this blog is a link where you can sign up for Christy's Mission Sqauad Team and walk again with us this year in the Walk on the Wild Side. We would LOVE to see you there.

We love you!!!

Deanna, Bob, Christy, Eric, Jennifer, Rae, Anthony, Danny, Andy & Ashley